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Revision 1.34 by root, Wed Aug 5 23:50:46 2009 UTC

4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
9 NODE # returns this node identifier
10 $NODE # contains this node identifier 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
11 12
12 snd $port, type => data...; 13 snd $port, type => data...;
14
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
13 16
14 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg);
15 18
16 # examples: 19 # examples:
17 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
27This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
28 31
29Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 32Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
30on the same or other hosts. 33on the same or other hosts.
31 34
35For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
36manual page.
37
32At the moment, this module family is severly brokena nd underdocumented, 38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
33so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to resreve the CPAN namespace - 39so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
34stay tuned! 40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
35 41
36=head1 CONCEPTS 42=head1 CONCEPTS
37 43
38=over 4 44=over 4
39 45
40=item port 46=item port
41 47
42A port is something you can send messages to with the C<snd> function, and 48A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
43you can register C<rcv> handlers with. All C<rcv> handlers will receive 49
44messages they match, messages will not be queued. 50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages
52will not be queued.
45 53
46=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 54=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
47 55
48A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
49by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference.
50 60
51=item node 61=item node
52 62
53A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node
54port. You can send messages to node ports to let them create new ports, 64port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to
55among other things. 65create new ports, among other things.
56 66
57Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
58(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
59public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes.
60 69
61=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 70=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
62 71
63A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 72A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
64private and hidden nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 73private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
65node (for public nodes). 74node (for public nodes).
66 75
76This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
77TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
78
79Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical
80addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
81
82Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to
83resolve it.
84
67=back 85=back
68 86
69=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 87=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
70 88
71=over 4 89=over 4
82 100
83use AE (); 101use AE ();
84 102
85use base "Exporter"; 103use base "Exporter";
86 104
87our $VERSION = '0.02'; 105our $VERSION = '0.1';
88our @EXPORT = qw( 106our @EXPORT = qw(
89 NODE $NODE $PORT snd rcv mon del _any_ 107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
90 create_port create_port_on 108 resolve_node initialise_node
91 create_miniport 109 snd rcv mon kil reg psub
92 become_slave become_public 110 port
93); 111);
94 112
113our $SELF;
114
115sub _self_die() {
116 my $msg = $@;
117 $msg =~ s/\n+$// unless ref $msg;
118 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
119}
120
95=item NODE / $NODE 121=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
96 122
97The C<NODE ()> function and the C<$NODE> variable contain the noderef of 123The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains
98the local node. The value is initialised by a call to C<become_public> or 124the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call
99C<become_slave>, after which all local port identifiers become invalid. 125to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port
126identifiers become invalid.
100 127
128=item $noderef = node_of $port
129
130Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef.
131
132=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
133
134=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
135
136Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
137itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
138it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
139
140This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
141never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
142
143All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved.
144
145There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
146
147=over 4
148
149=item public nodes
150
151For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved)
152noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in
153which case the noderef will be guessed.
154
155Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect
156to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
157and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
158
159=item slave nodes
160
161When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will
162become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will
163route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
164
165At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
166to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
167successfully connect to.
168
169=back
170
171This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
172nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
173server.
174
175Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
176
177 initialise_node;
178
179Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
180servers to become part of the network.
181
182 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
183
184Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
185
186 initialise_node 4041;
187
188Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
189
190 initialise_node "locahost:4044";
191
192Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
193
194 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
195
196=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
197
198Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
199abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
200reference.
201
202In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
203following forms are supported:
204
205=over 4
206
207=item the empty string
208
209An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
210specified.
211
212=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
213
214These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
215further resolved.
216
217=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
218
219These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
220looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
221specified.
222
223=back
224
225=item $SELF
226
227Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
228blocks.
229
230=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
231
232Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
233just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
234module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
235
101=item snd $portid, type => @data 236=item snd $port, type => @data
102 237
103=item snd $portid, @msg 238=item snd $port, @msg
104 239
105Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 240Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
106a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 241a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat
107stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :). 242stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
108 243
118JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 253JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
119of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 254of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
120that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 255that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
121node, anything can be passed. 256node, anything can be passed.
122 257
258=item $local_port = port
259
260Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern
261matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"),
262depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
263
264=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
265
266Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern
267matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
268a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
269
270The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
271callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
272will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
273
274The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
275be passed to the callback.
276
277If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
278
279 my $port; $port = port {
280 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
281 };
282
283=cut
284
285sub rcv($@);
286
287sub port(;&) {
288 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
289 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
290
291 if (@_) {
292 rcv $port, shift;
293 } else {
294 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
295 }
296
297 $port
298}
299
300=item reg $port, $name
301
302Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
303exists it is replaced.
304
305A port can only be registered under one well known name.
306
307A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
308
309=cut
310
311sub reg(@) {
312 my ($port, $name) = @_;
313
314 $REG{$name} = $port;
315}
316
317=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg)
318
319Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to
320one if required).
321
322=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
323
324=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
325
326=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
327
328Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
329port (after converting it to one if required).
330
331The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
332which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
333registered.
334
335The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
336executing the callback.
337
338Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
339C<kil>ed.
340
341If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
342first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
343matched.
344
345Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
346exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
347
348While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
349element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
350also the most efficient match (by far).
351
352=cut
353
354sub rcv($@) {
355 my $port = shift;
356 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
357
358 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
359 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
360
361 if (@_ == 1) {
362 my $cb = shift;
363 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
364 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
365 local $SELF = $port;
366 eval {
367 &$cb
368 and kil $port;
369 };
370 _self_die if $@;
371 };
372 } else {
373 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
374 my $self = bless {
375 id => $port,
376 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
377
378 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
379 local $SELF = $port;
380
381 eval {
382 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
383 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
384 && undef $_;
385 }
386
387 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
388 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
389 && &{$_->[0]}
390 && undef $_;
391 }
392
393 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
394 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
395 && &{$_->[0]}
396 && undef $_;
397 }
398 };
399 _self_die if $@;
400 };
401
402 $self
403 };
404
405 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
406 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
407
408 while (@_) {
409 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
410
411 if (!ref $match) {
412 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
413 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
414 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
415 @match
416 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
417 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
418 } else {
419 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
420 }
421 }
422 }
423
424 $port
425}
426
427=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
428
429Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
430closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
431callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
432
433This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
434
435 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
436 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
437 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
438 snd @reply, $SELF;
439 };
440 };
441
442=cut
443
444sub psub(&) {
445 my $cb = shift;
446
447 my $port = $SELF
448 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
449
450 sub {
451 local $SELF = $port;
452
453 if (wantarray) {
454 my @res = eval { &$cb };
455 _self_die if $@;
456 @res
457 } else {
458 my $res = eval { &$cb };
459 _self_die if $@;
460 $res
461 }
462 }
463}
464
123=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->() 465=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
124 466
125Monitor the given port and call the given callback when the port is 467=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport
126destroyed or connection to it's node is lost.
127 468
128#TODO 469=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport, @msg
470
471Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed.
472
473In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number
474of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
475"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
476C<eval> if unsure.
477
478In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff
479a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while
480under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason.
481
482In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>.
483
484Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
485
486 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
487
488Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
489
490 mon $port, $self;
491
492Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed.
493
494 mon $port, $self => "restart";
129 495
130=cut 496=cut
131 497
132sub mon { 498sub mon {
133 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 499 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
134 500
135 my $node = AnyEvent::MP::Base::add_node $noderef; 501 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
136 502
137 my $cb = shift; 503 my $cb = shift;
504
505 unless (ref $cb) {
506 if (@_) {
507 # send a kill info message
508 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
509 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
510 } else {
511 # simply kill other port
512 my $port = $cb;
513 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
514 }
515 }
138 516
139 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 517 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
140 518
141 defined wantarray 519 defined wantarray
142 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) } 520 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
143} 521}
144 522
145=item $local_port = create_port 523=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
146 524
147Create a new local port object. See the next section for allowed methods. 525Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
526is killed, the references will be freed.
148 527
149=cut 528Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
150 529
151sub create_port { 530This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
152 my $id = "$AnyEvent::MP::Base::UNIQ." . $AnyEvent::MP::Base::ID++; 531want to free them when the port gets killed:
153 532
154 my $self = bless { 533 $port->rcv (start => sub {
155 id => "$NODE#$id", 534 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
156 names => [$id], 535 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
157 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
158
159 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id} = sub {
160 unshift @_, $self;
161
162 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[1]} }) {
163 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
164 && undef $_;
165 } 536 });
166
167 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[1]} }) {
168 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
169 && &{$_->[0]}
170 && undef $_;
171 }
172
173 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
174 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
175 && &{$_->[0]}
176 && undef $_;
177 }
178 }; 537 });
179 538
180 $self 539=cut
540
541sub mon_guard {
542 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
543
544 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
181} 545}
182 546
183=item $portid = miniport { my @msg = @_; $finished } 547=item lnk $port1, $port2
184 548
185Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 549Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
186pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID.
187 550
188The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 551 mon $port1, $port2;
189callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 552 mon $port2, $port1;
190will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
191 553
192The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 554It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
193be passed to the callback. 555killed as well.
194 556
195If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 557=item kil $port[, @reason]
196 558
197 my $port; $port = miniport { 559Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
198 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
199 };
200 560
201=cut 561If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
562ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
202 563
203sub miniport(&) { 564Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
204 my $cb = shift; 565C<mon>, see below).
205 my $id = "$AnyEvent::MP::Base::UNIQ." . $AnyEvent::MP::Base::ID++;
206 566
207 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id} = sub { 567Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
208 &$cb 568will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
209 and del $id;
210 };
211 569
212 "$NODE#$id" 570Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
213} 571$message >>.
214
215package AnyEvent::MP::Port;
216
217=back
218
219=head1 METHODS FOR PORT OBJECTS
220
221=over 4
222
223=item "$port"
224
225A port object stringifies to its port ID, so can be used directly for
226C<snd> operations.
227
228=cut
229
230use overload
231 '""' => sub { $_[0]{id} },
232 fallback => 1;
233
234sub TO_JSON { $_[0]{id} }
235
236=item $port->rcv (type => $callback->($port, @msg))
237
238=item $port->rcv ($smartmatch => $callback->($port, @msg))
239
240=item $port->rcv ([$smartmatch...] => $callback->($port, @msg))
241
242Register a callback on the given port.
243
244The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
245which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
246registered.
247
248If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
249first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
250matched.
251
252Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
253exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
254
255While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
256element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
257also the most efficient match (by far).
258
259=cut
260
261sub rcv($@) {
262 my ($self, $match, $cb) = @_;
263
264 if (!ref $match) {
265 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
266 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
267 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
268 @match
269 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
270 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
271 } else {
272 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
273 }
274}
275
276=item $port->register ($name)
277
278Registers the given port under the well known name C<$name>. If the name
279already exists it is replaced.
280
281A port can only be registered under one well known name.
282
283=cut
284
285sub register {
286 my ($self, $name) = @_;
287
288 $self->{wkname} = $name;
289 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::WKP{$name} = "$self";
290}
291
292=item $port->destroy
293
294Explicitly destroy/remove/nuke/vaporise the port.
295
296Ports are normally kept alive by there mere existance alone, and need to
297be destroyed explicitly.
298
299=cut
300
301sub destroy {
302 my ($self) = @_;
303
304 AnyEvent::MP::Base::del $self->{id};
305
306 delete $AnyEvent::MP::Base::WKP{ $self->{wkname} };
307
308 delete $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$_}
309 for @{ $self->{names} };
310}
311
312=back
313
314=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES
315
316=over 4
317
318=item mon $noderef, $callback->($noderef, $status, $)
319
320Monitors the given noderef.
321
322=item become_public endpoint...
323
324Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
325
326If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then
327AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the
328local nodename resolves to.
329
330Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport
331endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the
332local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and
333will become the node reference.
334
335=cut
336 572
337=back 573=back
338 574
339=head1 NODE MESSAGES 575=head1 NODE MESSAGES
340 576
341Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 577Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
342arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 578arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
343message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 579message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
344the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 580the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
345 581
582While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
583
346=over 4 584=over 4
347 585
348=cut 586=cut
349 587
350=item wkp => $name, @reply 588=item lookup => $name, @reply
351 589
352Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 590Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
353 591
354=item devnull => ... 592=item devnull => ...
355 593
378 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 616 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
379 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 617 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
380 618
381=back 619=back
382 620
621=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
622
623AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node
624== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
625programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
626sample:
627
628 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
629 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
630 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
631 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
632
633Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
634
635=over 4
636
637=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
638
639Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
640same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
641convenience functionality.
642
643This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
644cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
645
646=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
647
648Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore
649needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful
650purpose.
651
652(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
653
654=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
655
656Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP
657sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the
658background.
659
660=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot.
661
662Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
663without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
664and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
665
666AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
667holes in the message sequence.
668
669=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
670alive.
671
672In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
673linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
674still alive - and can receive messages.
675
676In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
677eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
678and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
679
680=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
681
682In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process
683ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing
684messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
685
686AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
687around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
688
689=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
690authentication and can use TLS.
691
692AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
693securely authenticate nodes.
694
695=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
696communications.
697
698The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both
699language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
700language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
701
702It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
703with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
704protocol simple.
705
706=back
707
383=head1 SEE ALSO 708=head1 SEE ALSO
384 709
385L<AnyEvent>. 710L<AnyEvent>.
386 711
387=head1 AUTHOR 712=head1 AUTHOR

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